Six killed in shooutout in held Kashmir

Police said that Mehmood was involved in the killing of BSF personnel in Hajin last month.

According to a senior police official, on receiving information about the presence of some terrorists in Chandergeer village in Hajin area of Bandipora district, the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

DGP Vaid termed the encounter of the six Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants as a great success for the security forces.

One of the terrorists, Owaid, who was killed is the son of Zakir Rehman Maki and nephew of Zakir Rehman Lakhvi, who is mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks. All the slain militants, including top commander Mahmood Bhai are Pakistani.

An IAF Garud commando was martyred and another Army soldier has been injured in the encounter, added the defence official.

Indian Army and police have claimed recovery of weapons and ammunition from the gunfight site.

The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

On November 14, one terrorist was killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Today's operation in the LeT's stronghold in Hajin is being interpreted as a major achievement for Police and security forces and a remarkable setback for all militants, particularly those active in northern Valley. His pro-India and anti-Pakistan insurgency and politics led to successful Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Kashmir in 1996.

A senior police officer told DH that it was a group of nine LeT militants led by Mehmood Bhai which had made Hajin their basin for nearly two years.